44 pages • 1 hour read
Marina BudhosAsk Me No Questions
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Historical Context: The Post-9/11 US and the Partition of India
Content Warning: This section references Islamophobia, sectarian violence, and colonialism.
Ask Me No Questions is set against the backdrop of the early 2000s in the United States, a period profoundly impacted by the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This defining moment in modern American history brought both significant shifts in US immigration policy and heightened scrutiny of immigrant communities, especially those from Muslim-majority countries. The post-9/11 era saw the introduction of stringent security measures like the Patriot Act, legislation that expanded the surveillance powers of law enforcement agencies for the purpose of counterterrorism. The new climate of enhanced security and cultural tension created a notable rise in racial profiling, hate crimes, and discrimination against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. The atmosphere of distrust and fear permeated many aspects of daily life, affecting not only individuals but entire communities.
Equally important to the novel is the history of Bangladesh. In 1947, British colonial rule over India came to an end with the creation of two Muslim states, East and West Pakistan, situated on either side of India. The partition, driven by religious divisions (principally between Hindu and Muslim communities), caused massive and often bloody displacements that had lasting geographical, cultural, and social impacts. In 1971, East Pakistan, afterward known as Bangladesh, achieved independence following a war with West Pakistan, which became Pakistan.
In Ask Me No Questions, Budhos interweaves these historical contexts. The Hossain family, who emigrated from Bangladesh seeking a better life, embody the intersection of Bangladesh’s tumultuous history and the post-9/11 American landscape. The interplay of the traumatic history of Bangladesh’s formation and the post-9/11 American society shapes the characters’ understanding of borders as not merely physical entities but complex constructs intertwined with safety, identity, and historical memory. For example, Uncle’s perspectives on borders and immigration reflect the legacy of partition and the struggle for identity in Bangladesh. For him, borders represent division and upheaval; as he explains to Nadira, his grandmother and two of her young children were murdered attempting to leave West Bengal, so he views any efforts to start afresh in a new land as an occasion for potential violence.
Cultural Context: Bangladeshi Muslim Culture
Bangladesh, one of the world’s most densely populated countries, lies in a delta where numerous rivers converge into the Bay of Bengal. Its low-lying geography makes it vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones, compounded in the 20th and 21st centuries by rising sea levels. This environmental vulnerability not only exacerbates poverty but also cultivates a culture of resilience and adaptability. This interplay of environmental hardship and cultural fortitude informs Ask Me No Questions’s references to water and the Bay of Bengal, which evoke the Hossain family’s strong connection to their homeland, the struggles they face, and ultimately, their resilience.
A large Bangladeshi immigrant population has sought a life beyond Bangladesh’s widespread poverty, and in New York City, particularly Queens, the Bangladeshi community forms a significant cultural enclave. This is where the novel’s Hossain family has settled, and there they strive to preserve their cultural heritage, including the Bengali language and Islamic traditions. Their differing views on marriage reveal the tension between that heritage and the impulse to assimilate. Taslima, a member of the younger generation and more influenced by prevailing American culture, chooses to marry outside the tradition of arranged marriage. Other aspects of Bangladeshi culture, including cuisine and clothing, serve as more than just cultural symbols. They are vital links to the family’s past and represent a tangible connection to their homeland, acting as a means of preserving their heritage in the United States and developing the theme of The Struggle for Identity and Belonging in a New Country.
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By Marina Budhos
